Islam teaches Muslims to treat animals kindly and with mercy. It is for this reason Islam completely outlaws cruelty toward animals. Indeed, if we dig deeper, we will discover that good behavior toward animals is something that Allah stresses.

Unfortunately, some people take the few incidents that involve Muslims and think that Islam condemns animals or says negative things about them or that Islam even wholly condemns them, which is rarely the case. Dogs and pigs are among some of Allah’s creations that people misunderstand and hate. In the meantime, Islam only forbids eating their meat or keeping them as pets (for particular reasons.)

To know Islam and the Quran properly, we must learn the Quran. The most suitable way of learning the Quran is through online Quran classes like QuranForKids with flexible timings and experienced teachers. You can learn the Quran online in such cases from the comfort of your own home with an online Quran teacher. Many different Quran classes are available according to your needs.

Insects and small animals in the Quran

We may start with one of the smallest insects around: the fly. Allah says in a parable in Surah al-Hajj that humans can’t even get together and create a fly, which is among His creations. This shows Allah’s Power and Glory.

Another of the small animals mentions in the Quran is the mosquito. Allah says in Surah al-Baqarah that He isn’t ashamed of using a parable of a tiny mosquito, or something bigger or smaller than it.

Surah an-Nahl is named after bees; an-Nahl means “The Bees” in Arabic. Hence, it’s no surprise if we see that Allah discusses bees extensively in this Surah and the honey that they produce.

Another surah Allah named after insects is Surah an-Naml, which is a reference to ants. Allah relates a story where an ant told his fellow ants to take shelter because they were at risk of being crushed by Sulaiman (a.s.)’s forces.

Yet another surah in the Quran about animals and insects is Surah al-Ankaboot. In this surah, Allah compares people who take protectors besides Allah with a spider that builds a weak house for itself.

In Surah al-Qariah, Allah compares the scene on the last day with that of a colony of moths, all scattered around.

Allah says in Surah al-A’raf that He sent plagues of locusts, lice, and frogs as signs for the people of Pharaoh.

Birds in the Quran

Birds are among the animals Allah mentions in the Quran. In Surah al-Maidah, Allah explains one of Isa (a.s.)’s miracles. He molded a bird’s figure with clay and then breathed into it, after which it became a bird by Allah’s leave.

Additionally, Allah says in Surah an-Nur that all creatures in the heavens and on earth, including birds, celebrate the praises of Allah.

Allah also narrates in the Quran that He sent a crow, which scratched the ground to show Adam (a.s.)’s son how to bury his brother after he had killed him.

Allah says in the Quran in Surah al-Baqarah that He sent down animals such as quail for the Children of Israel so that they may eat them and satisfy their hunger.

In Surah al-Feel, Allah shows us how He sent birds to defeat the Companions of the Elephant; they threw stones upon them and thwarted their attack against the Kaabah.

Livestock and animals that Muslims can consume in the Quran

Allah has outlined the various animals that Muslims can eat in the Quran. The second and longest chapter of the Holy Book is named the Cow. One of the stories mentioned in it is when Musa (a.s.) told his people that Allah wanted them to slaughter a cow. Our Lord also mentions cows in the story of Yusuf (a.s.) and the king, where the monarch dreamed about cows devouring other cows.

In Surah ash-Shura, Allah says that He created humans in pairs as well as cattle. As a result, all these creatures multiply and keep increasing in the world.

When it comes to animals that we can eat, Allah mentions in the Quran in Surah al-An’am that among the animals we can consume are sheep and goats.

Allah also mentions camels in the Quran on some occasions. He tells us about the she-camel of the people of Thamud, which the people shouldn’t have hurt. However, they hamstrung her and earned Allah’s wrath.

Allah also narrates how Musa (a.s.) was away from his people for 40 nights. During this period, his people started worshiping a calf. He reprimanded them upon his return and told them to kill the transgressors among them as punishment.

Another animal Allah frequently mentions in the Quran is the pig. He tells us that consuming pork is forbidden in many surahs, including Surah al-Maidah and Surah al-Baqarah.

We learn in the story of Yunus (a.s.) that a fish swallowed the prophet after he stopped preaching to his people and left without Allah’s permission. Later, he was saved by Allah after repenting to Him.

Various other animals in the Quran

Allah mentions lions in Surah al-Mudaththir, comparing people to scared donkeys running away from a chasing lion.

In Surah an-Nahl, Allah narrates how He created horses, mules, and donkeys for the benefit of humans.

Allah narrates the story of the cave-dwellers in Surah al-Kahf. These men slept safely for a very long period while their dog kept guard at the entrance to their cave. While dogs are impure, there are many positive things about these animals mentioned in the Quran as well.

In Surah al-Qasas, Allah tells us about the miracle of Musa (a.s.). By the will of his Lord, Musa (a.s.) was able to throw down his staff in front of Pharaoh’s magicians, and it converted into a snake.

Allah tells us about the story of Yusuf (a.s.) and how Yaqub (a.s.) was worried that a wolf would eat him when his sons took him away. The brothers rejected the notion; later, they threw Yusuf (a.s.) into a well and claimed that a wolf had eaten him.